makatakam

I meant about you being engaged to someone else. Ha-ha.

I posted a link on your last post!! But you need to be on FB to see it! Not savvy computer wise to do anything else - sorry! https://www.facebook...10439404&type=1 Thanks, Wayne. Sorry, don't know how I missed it. That's definitely a good-looking kite. I wonder if the LE is rolled back like the Rev Speed Series, because there's no LE mesh. If so, that should make it pretty quick in both forward and reverse. Looks like 2 uprights and 2 half-circle battens to me, and some venting holes on the one in the link you provided. The yellow one in the photo above definitely shows the shadow of magic sticks as well.

TK won't be happy about the "engagement".

Yay, Joanna. Congratulations on your new toy tool.

Where can I see it? Post a link, please.

I've been looking for it but can't find it. Anybody got a URL.

Remember that the lower ends of the uprights go between the bungee and the sail. Helps keep them from flopping from side to side. You'll know when you forgot to put them there if you feel something like a clicking sensation in the handles when you load and unload the sail. Steroids is an understatement for the way that puppy moves, huh? Looks really good against the sand and water. Once the sail begins to loosen up, tighten the end bungees of the leading edge about 1/4" to 3/8" on each end. That LE Dacron is pretty stiff when the kite is new, but it will become more flexible and stretch a bit with time. It will actually help to stabilize the kite some. Have fun, and be careful. That thing is easy to lose control of. Keep it away from people when you fly it.

I should have. So I've edited the original post and added the "sparkly Steve" photo at the end. Bill That one is going to become a "classic".

............. if you can't remember how many line sets and handles you have, and where you put them.

A tripod set-up at eye level gives the most natural look, and keeps the camera steady. We all know how annoying a bouncy video is. You can do worm's-eye, or bird's-eye, and anything in between, depending on the effect you want. Check the field of view and try to keep the kite, and yourself if you want to be seen, within that area. Other than that it's just a matter of trial and error the first two or three times. With a head-mounted GoPro you can get good footage, as long as you keep your eyes on the kite, and move your head as little as possible.

Awwwww, Bill, you didn't include the Sparkly Steve photo. The video is really cool!

Anything up to 120 feet is usable. Beyond that, the kite slows down dramatically because of line drag. Whatever the kite can lift in the current wind will work. Short & light = faster. Long & heavy = slower. The shorter and heavier the lines, the less stretch there is also. Long, light lines will feel spongy. You can use anything weight from 50# to 250#, depending on wind conditions and your preferences.

Yeah, you're addicted. That's the good news! Now, for the bad news: Remember that bank account you used to have?

Congratulations, Amber. Enjoy and post pics.

I'm having no problems with either one.

If you purchased it new, there should be an instruction sheet to help you along. You can adjust the bridle tow point positions, move the stand-offs toward or away from the center, to adjust for light, medium or heavier winds. You can also move the spine weight toward the nose or the tail to aid in tricking. Toward the nose makes it less stable, hence easier to do some tricks. You have to find a balance for the way you fly, which will change as you get better. I don't recall if that kite has a leach line. If it does, you can tighten it for more speed and less vibration, or loosen it for slower speed and more vibration (sound). All of these variables will also affect how it tracks a line by making it more/less stable overall. Depending on the adjustments you make, some tricks will be harder and some easier. You can make frame and sail mods, but this kite is pretty darn near as good as it gets right out of the bag. You can also use lighter or shorter lines for light wind, or heavier and longer for higher winds. Play with it. It's a fun kite to fly, and reasonably durable.

Yeah, if I ever get to fly with him, I'm going to hijack him to give me dual lessons. Smoooooooooooooooooth.

Sorry if I was somewhat vague, there, Dave. The reply was intended for deerislandbrew. He's trying to decide on a light wind kite, and that video is just stuck in my head as one of the best flyer/kite/low wind combos I have ever seen. I'm a dual-line wannabee; in spite of flying them on-and-off for six years I haven't learned a thing. My primary passion is quads, and I have been remiss in improving my skills with duals. I have the technical knowledge, but very little practical experience. I can do all the adjustments to make the kite fly optimally, just can't make it trick. I would love to just be able to do a slide, axle and tip stab. I have won both a Genesis and Stranger in the Karma drawings on this forum, and have vowed to get them into the air frequently this year. Most of the people I fly with are into quads also, and so it has been difficult to get one of the people who know how to help me with learning duals. If I can get half as good as RobB it would make me extremely happy.

On this forum, go to: General Kite Stuff, Kite Videos, Of White Kites & Snow Watch the video in the first post. Might give you some ideas of the capabilities of some SUL's in the hands of an experienced flyer.

Oh yeah, dramatic improvement. It's back to speed (pun intended).

I had a Zephyr and could fly it in 2mph and up. It takes some tuning and you need to remove the spine weight, but it does well in lower winds. It definitely will not fly well unless well tuned. I started to get into tricking with it, but got side-lined by quad-line kites and then lost the Zephyr, E2 and E3 to unfortunate circumstances, along with a few other kites. I liked the way the E2 flew better, but it is not a UL, and is at it's best in 5mph and up. Short time on the lines with the Zephyr, but nothing bad to say about it. If I get back into duals I will get another and a Kymera. I believe the Kymera has a fairly low wind range too, if you lose the weights, but I think those are part of the tuning. John Barresi can probably give us some meaningful input on that. Edit: I just checked stats on the Kymera and it says the weights can be used in any combination, so I am guessing it can be flown without them also.

Ditto!

Until I got a Rev bag I just kept them in the sleeve with the kite. Never had a problem. The PVC is heavy, and I wouldn't want to add any more weight to the 40-50lbs of Revs I'm carrying now, unless of course it's another Rev.

First of all, welcome to the forum, Tom. Good to have you here. Get them single line deltas with tails at a kite store -- don't get the $5 junk at your local _____-mart, you fill in the blank. Spend $20 - $30 per kite and you and the kids will have fun for the whole summer. Get yourself a foil or a stunt delta; spend $50 - $80 and you will have some major fun. Read the instructions and take them with you; it will be the difference between an afternoon of fun or an afternoon of frustration. We all started where you are right now, so any questions you have can and will be answered here.

Check the paperwork that came with it or go online, and make adjustments to the bridle (bring the nose towards you = decrease the angle of attack) and standoff position toward center or away from center for the strength of the wind you fly in. The advanced kites are not one-size-fits-all-winds, and like to be adjusted. Make your adjustments in increments of about 1/4", fly re-adjust, and see if that makes a difference. Physically heavy kites need more input that lighter ones; the quantum is a heavy kite.